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GEORGE WLNEILL, oE-BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters, Patent No. 79,591, dated July 7, 1868,

y IMPROVEMENT 1N Piero-FORTES.

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TO ALL' PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME:

Be it known that I, GEOEGE W. NEILL, of Boston, in the'county of Suolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefull Improvement in Piano Fortes; and do hereby declare the sameto be i'ully described in the following specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a; vertical-and transverse section, and

' Figure 3 a horizontal section of the4 back frame, Ithe sounding-board, and the metallic string-frame of an upright piano, as combinedand arranged in accordance with '.my invention.

Figure 4 is a. front elevation of the back frame.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the main iron or string-frame.

Figure 6 is a front vie-.w of the sounding-board.

Figure 7 is a. front elevation, and I Figure 8 an end view of the ordinaryl metallic frame.

In' making my invention, I have'had the following objects' in View: First, to so construct the metallic frames for supporting the strings that .its bars may not come between them,`to interfere with any desirable arrangement of them; second. to covervfrom view the mainportion or bars of the iron frame; third, to vproduce a very strong :and durable support for thestrings, and with the metal thereof so arranged, with respect to them,

as to expand and corltract uniformly therewith under ordinary changes of temperature, in order that the strings may be maintained at their proper tension, and the instrument thereby be preserved in good tune.

In'carrying -out my invention, I arrange the metallic or string-'supporting frame A directly between the back frame B and the sounding-board C, the latter being in front of such metallic frame; Furthermore, I arrange an auxiliary metallic string-frame, D, in front of part of the sounding-boardnd,provide the auxiliary metallic frame with one or more lips, m n, at its outer edge or edges, to extend therefrom, and lap on and against the adjacent edge or edges' of the main metallic frame. v

The mairi iron frame A, I construct not only'of top and bottom parallel rails or bars, a ai', and connectionbars, b b b, arranged at right `angles to the bars a a', but of a set of other bars, c e, arranged obliquely with respect to the said bars aand b, in manner' as exhibited in the drawings, the wholebeing cast or formed in one piece, and with suitable guide and strengthening-lianges, as shown at d d ef. The guide-flanges or lips d d are to receive the guides g, through which th'e strings pass 1n going from; the bridges to the straining-pins.' These straining-pins, some of which are shown atJL h, are to be inserted in the seats or extensions z'z'of the wooden back frame, such1 extensions resting directlyA againstthe edge of the iron frame A.

The sounding-board C, carrying the bridges 7c l, is first to 'be iitted to and held in place by the main iron frame. The auxiliary. or hitch-pin frame or cap D is next to be placed over the'sounding-board, at one ofthe lower corners thereof, inmanner as shown in the drawings.` The ilanges'or lips m 1t of the frame D lap on the edges of the main string-frame A,'and serve to enable the main iron frame to support the'anxiliary frame agains't the strain of the strings.l The auxiliary frame I, fasten to a'ledge, o, projecting from the back frame. It may also-be iixed to the main iron frame by screws.

'The strings,-hitched on pins projecting from the auxiliary frame D, extend over the bridgesfand through the'guides' to the straining-pins. By my improved arrangement of p arts, the main metallic string-frame is disposed between the'back frame and the sounding-board, and not in front of the latter, as heretofore. The main iron frame also laps on theupp'er and lower edges of the sounding-board, the part so lapping on the upper edge of the sounding-board beingl the portion, D, for receiving the guides. Thus, the hars ofthe string-frame do not interfere .with or come between any ofthe strings, and, by the sounding-board, are kept wholly out of sight from'the front of the piano.

I make no claim to an iron frameiformed to receive he sounding-board between two series of bars, so that, while one series may be in rear of the said board, the other shall be on its front, and extend between the strings,

the same being'- as shown and described in the'United,v States patent, No. 55,385. My invention differs very Y materially therefrom, as l employ n'o such-'metallic frame, but make use of a wooden back frame, and empl'y no bars to extend across tbe sounding-board and betweenthe strings. I also employ, with the iron fraine, arranged betweenthe sounding-board and the wooden back frame, a separate metallic plate, D, proyided with flanges, to rest against the two adjacent edges of the metallic frame, the plate D being to support `the hitch-pins of the strngs.` v v What, therefore, I claim as lny-invention or'iniproyement, is

The combination of the wooden barok' frame B, -the sounding-board C, and anged plate D, with a separate metallic frame, A, arranged between the back frame and sounding-board, anx-l made with flanges, to support the latter, -andhvaving no metallic bars or auxiliary frame to extend between the strings, the whole being substantally as described. v I I GEO. W. NEILL.

Witnesses:

- Gao. D'. Noms, y Y

F. P. HALE, Jr. 

